Meningitis can occur due to a viral , bacterial , or fungal infection and command emergency aesculapian treatment . symptom may include unfaltering neck , sleepiness , and headache , among others .

Meningitis is an inflammation of the fluid and three membrane ( meninx ) border your brain and spinal electric cord .

The most common effort of meningitis are viral and bacterial infections . Other movement may let in :

A cross section of what meningitis looks like in the brain

Some viral and bacterial meningitis are contagious . They can be broadcast bycoughing , sneezing , or unaired contact .

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

The symptom of viral and bacterial meningitis can be similar in the beginning . However , bacterial meningitis symptoms are ordinarily more severe . The symptoms also motley depend on your geezerhood .

Viral meningitis symptoms

Viral meningitis may cause :

Bacterial meningitis symptoms

Bacterial meningitis symptoms develop suddenly . They may include :

Seek straightaway medical attention if you experience these symptoms . Bacterial and viral meningitis can be deadly . There ’s no way to bang if you have bacterial or viral meningitis just by pass judgment how you finger . A doctor needs to perform tests to determine which case you have .

Fungal meningitis symptoms

symptom of fungal meningitis resemble the other types of this infection . These may let in :

Chronic meningitis symptoms

You ’re diagnosed with continuing meningitis when your symptoms last forlonger than 4 weeks .

Chronic meningitis symptoms are standardised to other forms but may grow more slowly .

Meningitis symptoms in infants

Babieswho develop meningitismay show unlike symptom than adults . These can include :

virus that have cold , cold sores , influenza , and looseness of the bowels can also cause viral meningitis .

Bacterial meningitis typically spreads from a severe contagion in a nearby country of the body . For object lesson , bacteria from a severe capitulum contagion or sinus transmission can put down the bloodstream and go to the brain or spinal electric cord .

A cross section of what meningitis looks like in the brain

Meningitis symptoms in children

Meningitis becomes more vulgar in tiddler as they develop old and reach gamy school and college age . symptom of viral and bacterial meningitis in nipper are similar to symptom in adults . These include :

Meningitis rash

Having Neisseria meningitidis , one bacterial drive of meningitis , in your blood stream may induce a faint roseola .

bacterium from a meningococcal meningitis infection reproduce in the blood andtarget cellphone around the capillaries . terms to these cells leads to capillary damage and mild lineage leaks . bet on your skin color , this shows up as a faint pink , red , or purple roseola . The patch may resemble tiny pinprick and are easily mistake for contusion .

People with darker skin may have a hard time seeing a meningitis blizzard . Lighter areas of skin , such as the palms of hands and the inside of the mouth , may show sign of a rash more easy .

A cross section of what meningitis looks like in the brain

As the infection worsens and spreads , the rash can become more visible . The smear commonly grow blue and larger .

Types of meningitis

Though meningitis refers to excitation of the fluid and tissue layer around the brain and spinal cord , experts categorise it based on thetype of infectionthat cause it .

Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis is the mostcommontype of meningitis . computer virus in the Enterovirus category suit about52%of cases in grownup and 58 % in infant , more commonly during the summer and fall . virus include :

Though viruses in the Enterovirus category get about10 to 15 millioninfections per year , only a low percent of citizenry who get them develop meningitis .

Other virus can also cause meningitis . Thesemay admit :

A cross section of what meningitis looks like in the brain

Viral meningitis typically give-up the ghost away without treatment . However , some cause do need discourse .

Bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitisis contagious and due to contagion from certain bacterium . It can be fatal if allow for untreated . About1 in 10 peoplewho get bacterial meningitis die , and1 in 5have serious complications . This can be true even with proper discourse .

coarse bacterial causes include :

Pneumococcal meningitis is a rarefied but serious and life threatening form of bacterial meningitis .

A cross section of what meningitis looks like in the brain

About40%of people stock bacteria bid Streptococcus pneumoniae in their throat and the back of the nose . These bacteria are responsible for common illnesses like pneumonia , venous sinus infections , and ear infection .

symptom of pneumococcal meningitis can include :

Fungal meningitis

Fungal meningitis is rare . It happens when a fungus enters the physical structure and disperse from the blood stream to the mentality or spinal cord .

multitude with a weakened resistant arrangement aremore likelyto evolve it . This include people with cancer orHIV .

Common fungus concern to fungal meningitis admit :

A cross section of what meningitis looks like in the brain

Parasitic meningitis

epenthetic meningitis is less common than viral or bacterial meningitis . It ’s stimulate by sponger in grime , feces , and on some fauna and food , like :

One type of parasitical meningitis is rarer than others . It ’s called eosinophilic meningitis ( EM ) . Three main leech are creditworthy for EM . These include :

parasitical meningitis is not hap from someone to person . Instead , these parasites move into an animal or hide out on food that a human then eats . An infection may take place if the parasite or parasite eggs are infectious when ingested .

amoebous meningitis is a very rarefied type of epenthetic meningitis that causes a living endanger infection .

It appears when one of several case of amoeba enters the trunk through the olfactory organ . The most commonly recognized species is Naegleria fowleri . contagion can hap while swimming in lakes , rivers , or pond that contain these amoebas . The parasite can demolish brain tissue and may eventually cause hallucinations , seizures , and other serious symptom .

Non-infectious meningitis

Non - infectious meningitis is not an contagion . rather , it is fervor triggered by other medical conditions or treatments , including :

Chronic meningitis

Doctors call meningitis chronic if the inflammation lastslonger than 4 weeks . cause can include :

Treating the inherent cause ( i.e. , managing rheumatoid arthritis ) may facilitate relieve continuing meningitis .

What are the causes and risk factors for meningitis?

Each type of meningitis has a somewhat different cause , but each ultimately acts in the same way :

A bacteria , fungus , virus , or parasite unfold through the body ( via the bloodstream , brass finish , or even a dormant reactivation in the nervous arrangement ) until it reaches the mastermind or spinal corduroy . There , it diffuse within the facing or fluids around these vital body parts and starts developing into a more advanced infection .

Non - infective meningitis results from a physical harm or other circumstance ; it does n’t involve an contagion .

Some groups may have an increase jeopardy of meningitis . This can admit :

People with weakened immune systems

Certain wellness condition and treatmentscan weakenyour resistant system . These let in :

Community living

Meningitis often broadcast more easily if people live or work in snug after part , such as :

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can increase the risk oflisteriosis , an contagion do by the Listeria bacterium , which can lead in meningitis .

Age

nipper under 5 may have an increased risk of exposure of viral meningitis , while infants have a higher risk of bacterial meningitis . old adults can also be at an increased risk of infections that can cause meningitis .

Working with animals

People who work on intimately with animal may have an increase risk of Listeria infection .

Is there a vaccine for meningitis?

vaccinum are usable for several types of bacterial meningitis , including meningococcal meningitis , due to Neisseria meningitidis . These let in :

Meningococcal conjugate(MenACWY) vaccine

The meningococcal conjugate solution , or MenACWY vaccine ( often called by mark names such as Menactra , Menveo , and MenQuadfi ) boast a vaccinum that aim four of the most common type of bacterial serotypes . It lasts longer and propose greater protection , especially if you maintain takeoff booster shots .

TheCDC recommendsthe MenACWY vaccine for :

Serogroup B meningococcal(MenB) vaccine

The Serogroup B meningococcal , or MenB , vaccine targets one specific strain and has a much light tribute window . The CDC recommends that anyone 10 years old or older at an increase risk formeningococcal diseaseget the MenB vaccinum .

This may admit :

Vaccine side effects

Side core of a meningitis vaccinecan include :

Depending on the vaccine , these side impression usually ameliorate in1 to 5days .

While viral meningitis is more common , bacterial meningitis can be more dangerous if not diagnosed and treat quickly .

Special conditions

While most younger children and adults do not necessitate a meningitis vaccine , theCDC recommendsit for the following conditions :

If you fall into any of the class above , it ’s good to talk with a Dr. about inoculation for meningitis .

Meningitis in adults

The risk of several shape of meningitis decreases after untried maturity . Once a young adult ages out of schoolhouse and university , dumbfound meningitis is less likely .

However , older someone who are dwell with underlying disease or health condition that de-escalate the immune system of rules can be at expectant danger . The endangerment is especially higher in older adults in aided living quickness .

teacher , healthcare professional , and day care staffer also have an elevated risk .

How is meningitis diagnosed?

name meningitis embark on with a wellness story and physical exam . During the physical exam , your Doctor of the Church may check you for :

They will also regularise tests to accurately diagnose meningitis . These can let in :

Testing can also determine the best antibiotic for treatment .

How is meningitis treated?

handling for meningitis depend on the causal agent .

How contagious is meningitis?

Not all types of meningitis are transmittable . Fungal , leechlike , and non - infectious meningitis are not contagious .

Viral meningitis is contagious . It ’s spread through direct touch with physical structure fluid , include mucous secretion , fecal matter , and saliva . droplet of infected fluid can disseminate by sneeze and cough . you may get viral meningitis without descend into unmediated contact with someone who has it .

Bacterial meningitis , the most serious form of meningitis , can also be transmittable , especially if it ’s meningococcal meningitis . It can fan out through extended contact with someone who has it . It typically propagate in locations where people are in close quartern .

Can you prevent meningitis?

While it ’s unmanageable to prevent all types of meningitis , you may be able to forestall bacterial meningitis , the most vulgar and serious eccentric , with vaccines .

If you ’re at an sublime peril for meningitis due to your age , job , or overall health , consider utter with a doctor about your options forvaccination .

You may be able to abbreviate your endangerment of meningitis by :

Certain practices may also bear out your overall resistant system wellness and deoxidize your endangerment of illness that could lead to meningitis . This can include :

What are the complications of meningitis?

These complications are typically associated with meningitis :

A meningitis contagion may give rise bacterium in the bloodstream . These bacteria multiply , and some release toxins . This can damage line of descent watercraft and leak out blood into the skin and Hammond organ .

A serious form of this parentage infection can be life peril . sphacelus may damage skin and tissue paper . In rarified cases , amputation may be necessary . Several other serious tortuousness may pass in people with meningitis who do not pick up proper discussion .

The bottom line

Meningitis is an inflammation of the fluid and three membranes surround the brain and spinal cord . Meningitis can hap when fluid surrounding these membranes becomes infected .

Meningitis can result from viral , bacterial , or fungous infections .

Some variety of meningitis can be severe or fatal if not treated quickly .

Vaccines for bacterial meningitis are useable for pre - teens and teens , as well as anyone who may be at a higher risk of develop the condition .